Capturing Frailness Through A Lens: VICKY ROY
Vicky Roy: A perfect example of the proverbial phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” VICKY ROY, a rag picker turned photographer, hails from the streets of Purulia, West Bengal. With big dreams in his eyes and high hopes, Vicky ran away from his hometown in search of a life that had satisfaction. As a child, he always dreamt of becoming an artist and working in cinema, like any other child in their teens. He came to Delhi when he was 11 and struggled as a rag picker at the New Delhi Railway Station. He also worked as a dishwasher in a nearby neighborhood, ‘Dhaba.’ His journey was challenging, but his determination and zeal to overcome his extreme circumstances were more firm.
Roy, in his juvenescence, was rehabilitated by a trust named ‘Salaam Baalak Trust.’ There he got his inspiration from a British photographer who visited the trust, and he started venturing with him exploring the world of photography.
After finalizing photography as his area of interest, he worked for a local photographer. He worked on various projects in photography. In 2007 Roy, for the first time, showed the world the power of his camera through an exhibition named “Street Dreams,” which showed the lives of children surviving in the streets. In 2009, Roy became one of the four candidates selected for the ‘Reconstruction Shoot of the World Trade Centre’ in New York. This became a turning point in Roy’s life. There in New York, he got enrolled in the International Centre for Photography, one of the best photography schools in the world. Vicky Roy was also the Gold Award holder of the International Award for the Young People hosted by the Salaam Balaak Trust. In 2011, Roy and his colleague laid the foundation of Rang Open Library, where they requested the named people in the photography field to donate photography books for people. In 2013 Roy published his first book “Home Street Home,” in which he showcased his journey from his parental home to the streets of Delhi and then his new life in his shelter home through the concept of photographs.
In his childhood, Roy decided to overcome all the hurdles in his life and succeed. Today, Roy is an internationally acclaimed photographer and was honored by Forbes Asia 30 under 30 in 2016.
Vicky Roy is not only an inspiration to all of us but also an epitome of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Vicky Roy showed the world a positive aspect of life. In his project “Street Dreams,” Roy mentioned that if he can manage to come out of all the difficulties and become successful, anyone can. Well, it’s truly said, ‘You don’t find a happy life. You make it.’ And with his extreme willpower, Vicky Roy found a way to be where he is today!
